Symi (or Simi) is a quiet and picturesque island located just an hour by boat from Rhodes; it makes for a pleasant day trip or a longer honeymoon holiday.
Explore the picturesque old port area of Yialos, which is surrounded by hills and lined with pastel-coloured neoclassical houses overlooking a wide horseshoe-shaped harbour.
From Yialos climb the ancient chipped marble steps of the Kali Strata to Old Horio for great views over the harbour.
Once there, visit the medieval 14th century Knights of Agios Ioannis castle, see Byzantine and medieval artefacts within the small Archaeological Museum and examine colourful frescoes inside the Church of the Panagia.
Pass picture-perfect white-washed homes and churches and a row of windmills along the way.
Hire a scooter and ride across green hills to visit the imposing 18th century Monastery of St Michel of Panormitis, which nestles beneath green hills and faces a tranquil harbour.
Inside the museum, admire Byzantine paintings, manuscripts, frescoes and folkloric artefacts then unwind on the pretty beach nearby.
Symi offers several mainly pebble and shingle beaches that shelve into clear turquoise waters.
The best beaches in Symi, include…
This long, tree-shaded, coarse shingle beach offers good swimming in a calm bay with a beachside taverna on hand for when you feel peckish.
Nimborio (also known as Emborio) is located 3km from Yialos and is easily accessible by car, boat or on foot.
Surrounded by rock-strewn hillsides and facing tranquil Pedi Bay, this beach of golden sand and shingle offers good swimming in turquoise waters.
Relax in the shade of tamarisk trees and enjoy a tasty lunch at the beachside taverna. Facilities also include sun beds and umbrellas.
St Nikolaos is a short walk away from the waterfront village of Pedi, which is easily accessed by bus from Yialos.
This small shingle beach offers stunning turquoise swimming waters and views across to the St Marina islet and its small church.
St Marina is located a short walk around the bay from St Nicolaos Beach.
This popular sand and shingle beach is the closest to Yialos and offers good swimming in clean turquoise water. Facilities also include sun beds and umbrellas.
This narrow shingle beach offers good swimming in calm crystalline waters. The beach is located a short walk from the famous Panormitis monastery.
Cool off with a refreshing swim, sunbathe on the beach or go for a walk through the tamarisk woods that fringe the beach.
Anytime. For sunny blue skies and warm seawater, the best time to honeymoon in Symi is between May and September when the average temperature is 28°C (82°F).
However, the summer crowds of July and August are probably best avoided.
Symi enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. A cool refreshing sea breeze - the Meltimi – is fairly consistent throughout summer.
Sea temperatures peak around 25°C (77°F) in August.
More information about Symi weather…
Symi (or Syme or Simi) is located in the Dodecanese island group, which lie east of the Peloponnese about 425km (264mi) from Piraeus, the port of Athens. Symi is closer to Turkey than to mainland Greece.
As well as Symi, the Dodecanese Islands comprise Patmos, Simi, Kos, Leros and Rhodes, plus a number of smaller islands.
There is no airport on Symi. The closest airport is on Rhodes, about 41km (25mi) southeast of Symi.
The quickest and most convenient route to Symi is by air to Rhodes International Airport (RHO), located about 14km (8.6mi) southwest of Rhodes Town, followed by catamaran or ferry.
High-speed catamarans make the trip between Rhodes and Symi in 1 hour 15 minutes, three times a week; and by ferry twice daily, taking 3 hours 30 minutes.
More information about how to get to Symi…
Latest update: Symi: 23 January, 2023
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